Print Media Coverage of Risk-Risk Tradeoffs Associated with West Nile Encephalitis and Pesticide Spraying

Roche, John P.

doi:10.1093/jurban/79.4.482

Cited by 24 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Risk precision information represents the degree of specificity given about how likely individuals are to contract, become ill, and/or die from a risk. ( 13 ) Risk precision information was manipulated to be either high or low by the inclusion or omission of specific facts or values, such as quantitative rates of infection, or specific contaminants and/or symptoms. For example, the high precision treatment included: “Since the study, there have been 45 cases of pulmonary hemorrhage and 16 deaths attributed to SBS.” In contrast, the low precision treatment included: “Since the study, there have been more cases of pulmonary hemorrhage attributed to SBS and have resulted in some deaths.”…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Risk precision information is often described as the specificity in the presentation of how likely individuals are to contract, become ill, and/or die from a risk. ( 13 ) This variable represents the specificity of information about a risk's pervasiveness, potency, or effects. Imprecise or qualitative risk information is thought to represent the low end of a continuum of contextual precision and is evident when risks are discussed by using qualitative phrases like “a few deaths.” Conversely, precise, or quantitative risk, information is thought to represent the higher end of the continuum and is evident when risks are discussed in more detailed, often numerical ways, such as “15 deaths.”…”

Section: Message‐level Variables Of Risk Coveragementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Precision of Information, Sensational Information, and Self‐Efficacy Information as Message‐Level Variables Affecting Risk Perceptions

2011

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Studies that investigate how the mass media cover risk issues often assume that certain characteristics of content are related to specific risk perceptions and behavioral intentions. However, these relationships have seldom been empirically assessed. This study tests the influence of three message-level media variables--risk precision information, sensational information, and self-efficacy information--on perceptions of risk, individual worry, and behavioral intentions toward a pervasive health risk. Results suggest that more precise risk information leads to increased risk perceptions and that the effect of sensational information is moderated by risk precision information. Greater self-efficacy information is associated with greater intention to change behavior, but none of the variables influence individual worry. The results provide a quantitative understanding of how specific characteristics of informational media content can influence individuals' responses to health threats of a global and uncertain nature.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Message‐level Variables Of Risk Coveragementioning

confidence: 99%

Precision of Information, Sensational Information, and Self‐Efficacy Information as Message‐Level Variables Affecting Risk Perceptions

2011

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For example, the qualitative phrase somewhat risky communicates little useful information, whereas the quantitative phrase five people died communicates slightly more, and the precise quantitative phrase five out of one hundred thousand people died communicates much more. Given the inherent desirability of understanding relative risk (i.e., the magnitude of one risk in comparison with that of another) for decision making regarding appropriate level of concern and appropriate level of resource allocation, it is most informative and useful for citizens to understand the relative likelihood that an individual or population will be affected by a specific threat, that is, for citizens to understand the relative risk (Covello, Sandman, and Slovic 1991;Roche 2002). Assessment of relative risk is based on understanding the known or likely incidence of an effect (the numerator) and the size of the population within which the effect is, or is likely to be, observed (the denominator).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Limited Precision in Print Media Communication of West Nile Virus Risks

Roche¹,

Muskavitch

2003

Science Communication

124

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The emergence of West Nile virus in the United States provides an opportunity to examine the effectiveness with which the print media communicate risks associated with a specific health threat. The authors surveyed articles on West Nile virus published in major North American newspapers in the year 2000 to assess the efficacy of risk communication related to this disease. They found that articles generally presented risk information with a low degree of contextual precision; that is, information was generally more qualitative than quantitative, and quantitative information that was present generally did not provide the relative context of a denominator. Therefore, the information provided was of limited usefulness to readers, in that it was insufficient to help readers make personal decisions required to reduce overall personal risk while minimizing personal cost. Their findings suggest that there is a distinct need for the media to provide more precise information about health risks.

show abstract

“…Due to rising concerns about global climate change leading to the range expansion of mosquito species that vector human and animal pathogens [8], there has been greater public attention to the human-health and environmental risks associated with ULV insecticide applications [9–11]. Reasonable worst-case risk assessments have been performed in response to concerns about the safety of ULV insecticides.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bystander Exposure to Ultra-Low-Volume Insecticide Applications Used for Adult Mosquito Management

Preftakes

Schleier

Peterson

2011

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A popular and effective management option for adult mosquitoes is the use of insecticides applied by ultra-low-volume (ULV) equipment. However, there is a paucity of data on human dermal exposure to insecticides applied by this method. The objective of the current study was to estimate dermal exposures to the insecticide active ingredient permethrin using water- (Aqua-Reslin®) and oil-based (Permanone® 30-30) formulations with passive dosimetry. No significant differences in deposition of permethrin were observed between years, distance from the spray source, front or back of the body, or the placement of the patches on the body. However, exposure to Aqua-Reslin was significantly greater than Permanone 30-30 and average concentrations deposited on the body were 4.2 and 2.1 ng/cm2, respectively. The greater deposition of Aqua-Reslin is most likely due to the higher density of the water-based formulation which causes it to settle out faster than the lighter oil-based formulation of Permanone 30-30. The estimated average absorbed dermal exposure for permethrin from Aqua-Reslin and Permanone 30-30 was 0.00009 and 0.00005 mg/kg body weight, respectively. We also found that ground deposition of ULV insecticides can be used as a surrogate for estimating dermal exposure. The estimated exposures support the findings of previous risk assessments that exposure to ULV applications used for mosquito management are below regulatory levels of concern.

show abstract

Print Media Coverage of Risk-Risk Tradeoffs Associated with West Nile Encephalitis and Pesticide Spraying

Abstract: When mosquito-borne West Nile virus emerged in the United

Cited by 24 publications

References 32 publications

Precision of Information, Sensational Information, and Self‐Efficacy Information as Message‐Level Variables Affecting Risk Perceptions

Precision of Information, Sensational Information, and Self‐Efficacy Information as Message‐Level Variables Affecting Risk Perceptions

Limited Precision in Print Media Communication of West Nile Virus Risks

Bystander Exposure to Ultra-Low-Volume Insecticide Applications Used for Adult Mosquito Management

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About